(Video & Show Notes) Do you want to write or tell more compelling family history stories? Author Sunny Morton (Story of My Life:A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy) joins me to share 9 techniques you can use to tell a better story that will grab your reader’s or listener’s interest. Don’t just find the stories through your genealogy research, share them in a way that will have them asking for more!
Watch the Video
Here’s how I’m telling my story
I’m not putting off telling my story for another day! With MyStories I can be sure that I will have a completed book to pass down to future generations.
SAVE 25% on MyStories! Visit MyStories and use Coupon Code: GenealogyGems
Thank you to our wonderful sponsor MyHeritage for this exclusive discount!
Show Notes
Download the show notes cheat sheet for this video. (Premium Membership required.)
The Challenges of Storytelling
(01:52) Family historians often have compelling stories but struggle to share them effectively in brief, engaging ways. Instead of relying on extensive research notes, craft a concise “elevator pitch” to captivate listeners during short opportunities, such as family gatherings.
1. Tell the stories you’re passionate about
(01:58) Choose stories that resonate deeply with you, as your enthusiasm will engage your audience. For example, a story about a relative who left their job to volunteer during the Johnstown flood can create a personal connection, making the story memorable and impactful.
2. Find the story arc
(03:07) Lives don’t follow a neat narrative, but you can shape historical events into compelling stories. Identify a beginning, middle, and end to create a cohesive arc, even if the story spans just a few minutes or years, to make it relatable and engaging.
3. Identify the story elements
(03:45) Craft stories with clear characters, meaningful themes, and a defined plot. Ensure the story has a satisfying conclusion or, if unresolved, a compelling cliffhanger that sparks curiosity, such as planning further research to uncover missing details.
4. Find the story hook
(04:43) Start with an exciting or intriguing moment to grab attention, then provide necessary backstory. Draw inspiration from novels that begin with pivotal moments rather than chronological details, prompting listeners to want to know more.
5. Practice telling the story
(05:29) Condense extensive research into a 30-second to 3-minute story and practice delivering it to family or friends. Observe their reactions to refine your storytelling, ensuring it holds attention and avoids unnecessary details.
6. Use writing to flesh out the story
(06:36) Writing helps organize your research into a coherent narrative. Create a timeline to identify gaps or inconsistencies, using the process to discover the story’s core elements before sharing it with others.
7. Make story notes in your genealogy database
(07:17) Record key insights about ancestors in your database’s notes section, summarizing what stands out in one sentence. This practice helps identify compelling stories, prompts further research, and supports creating short narratives or videos.
8. Use YouTube for background research
(08:08) Explore YouTube for historical context, such as training videos or documentaries, to enrich your stories. For example, 1940s telephone operator training videos revealed their critical role as emergency responders, adding depth to Sunny’s grandmother’s story.
9. Using AI for Genealogy Writing
(12:00) AI tools like those on Ancestry or FamilySearch can generate skeletal biographies, serving as a starting point or a tool to spot inaccuracies. Use AI as a collaborative assistant, fact-checking its output and refining it to match your audience’s tone, whether casual or scholarly. Be cautious of AI’s tendency to fill gaps with fiction, and focus on ethical use, such as citing AI contributions appropriately if needed.
Learn More about Storytelling and Writing
Reconstructing Your Family’s Amazing Stories (Premium Video)
Description: A heroic rescue, a love story and a 30-foot wall of water. That’s just part of my ancestors’ experience in the Great Johnstown Flood of 1889. Come learn how to reconstruct fascinating experiences from your own family history by combining clues from your family’s knowledge, documents from genealogy websites, good historical research and Googling to fill in the gaps. All while learning the riveting story of one of the worst disasters in U.S. history.
Share Your Life Story in a More Meaningful Way (Premium Video)
Description: Every life is fascinating when it’s well shared! Learn from the author of Story of My Life:A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy what stories you have that are worth telling–and several inspiring reasons to write them. Review different kinds of memories, why some memories are more vivid that others, and how to flesh them out. Learn tips for researching gaps in your memories, how to turn a memory into a good story, what to leave out and several ways to share your stories. The handout includes a life story writing exercise worksheet to help you get started.
End Genealogy Overwhelm: My Personal Breakthrough! (Free Video)
Description: In this very personal video, I’m sharing my own journey in response to a Premium Member’s cry for help. I’ll reveal how I profoundly changed my thinking and, by getting my priorities clearly set, finally zeroed in on what was most important to me (storytelling came to the top of my list). Stop feeling stuck and start living your best family history journey with clarity by figuring out what matters most to you!
Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 292 (Free Audio podcast) – Artificial Intelligence and Writing Your Family History
Resources
Download the show notes cheat sheet for this video. (Premium Membership required.)
What Do You Think?
What has helped you tell your family’s story? What’s holding you back? I want to hear from you in the Comments below!